I wish we could do something to help you; but while you remain in the worldly channel in which you have placed yourselves, what can be done for you? You love the world, and the world loves you, because, so far as practical godliness is concerned, there is no separation between yourselves and worldlings. In their eyes you are agreeable, smart, and good; they find in you both that which pleases them. They have praised you and spoken to you smooth things, and thus have had an influence to soothe and comfort you; and you, in your turn, have soothed and comforted them in their careless indifference to the claims of God. You have encouraged them in their pride and love of pleasure; for your actions have said to the sinner: “It shall be well with thee.” By mingling with worldlings, your judgment has become perverted; and sins which God abhors are tame and harmless in your sight. {5T 430.3}

Jeg ville ønske jeg kan gøre noget for at hjælpe jer; men så længe I forbliver i den verdslige kanal, hvor I har sat jer selv, hvad kan der så gøres for jer? I elsker verden og verden elsker jer, fordi der, såvidt det angår praktisk gudsfrygt, ikke er adskillelse mellem jer og verdslige. I deres øjne er I behagelige, smarte og gode; de finder ting i jer begge som behager dem. De har rost jer og sagt behagelige ting til jer og derved kommet til at formilde og trøste jer; og I, for jeres del, har formildnet og trøstet dem i deres ubekymrede (431) ligegyldighed overfor Guds krav. I har opmuntret dem i deres stolthed og kærlighed for fornøjelse; for jeres handlinger har sagt til synderen: "Det skal være i orden med jer." Ved at blande jer med verdslige, er jeres dømmekraft blevet forvansket; og synder som Gud afskyer er tamme og uskadelige i jeres øjne.